Animal Welfare Officer

Job Description

Posted Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM | Expires Friday, January 1, 2027 at 10:59 AM

If you are up for the challenge and would like to be considered for this position, we would like to hear from you. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is looking to fill the following career opportunity:

POSITION: Animal Welfare Officer

SHIFT: 35 Hours per week- extensive and overnight travel, often at little to no notice, will be required - Travels 50% of the time

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

We welcome diversity, value differences, and foster inclusion in our employment practices.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion by reading our
Foundational Principles on our website. We invite applications from all qualified individuals who are philosophically aligned with our mission, vision and values .

The BC SPCA is a dynamic organization with facilities and services across the province of BC. Join an expanding team in an exciting time of change in an organization that makes a difference! Please read below for additional details and let us know if you have the skills and experience we are looking for by submitting your application.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Regional Manager, Cruelty Investigations, this position responds to concerns and complaints of animal cruelty within the assigned geographic area. This includes conducting investigations in accordance with federal, provincial and municipal legislation and following BC SPCA policies, protocols, regulations and guidelines.

Some specific duties:

• Conduct, or cause to be conducted, investigations into complaints of animal cruelty. This includes but is not limited to:
• Attending to all complaints following legislative requirements and BC SPCA policies, protocols, regulations, and guidelines;
• Responding to situations using knowledge of animal behaviour, animal handling techniques and proper use of rescue equipment to minimize the degree of suffering;
• Taking all necessary precautions to ensure personal and public safety;
• Ensuring complains are promptly and properly investigated;
• Determining if an animal is in critical distress and taking action necessary pursuant to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act to relieve that animal’s distress, including authorizing euthanasia;
• Gathering evidence of an offence pursuant to the PCA Act, Criminal Code, and any other legislation or regulation pertaining to the prevention of cruelty to animals.
• Recording all actions taken in the appropriate software systems
• Ensure that all records and statistics are kept in conformance with BC SPCA and Branch policies, and provide such records and/or reports in a timely manner upon request.
• Conduct inspections of any establishment where animals are kept for sale, hire or entertainment during the normal business hours of those establishments to determine if an animal is in distress.
• Offer expertise to assist all statutory authorities as requested.
• Take custody of animals that are at large and in distress, abandoned or apparently ownerless.
• Prepare notices of disposition in accordance with the PCA Act and BC SPCA policies.
• Assist the Regional Manager, Cruelty Investigations with applications to the Justice of the Peace for search warrants in accordance with the PCA Act, Offence Act, and Criminal as required.
• Take any action necessary to ensure compliance with Federal or Provincial legislation or regulations pertaining to the keeping, care or prevention of cruelty to animals.
• Act as an ambassador of the BC SPCA and ensure customer and community relations are consistently professional and positive.
• Work collaboratively with other staff and volunteers, support and implement BC SPCA provincial initiatives, and adhere to BC SPCA policies and procedures.
• Follow all requirements regarding health and safety; this includes.
• To assist in local and provincial fund-raising initiatives, as required.
• To perform other duties as required.

Qualifications you need to have:

• Must be 19 years of age or older
• Valid Class N or 5 BC Drivers’ License and driver’s abstract
• Post-secondary education in a related field or a combination of education and…